Afghan civilian casualties hit record high in 2016: UN

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan in 2016 were the highest recorded by the United Nations, the world body said on Feb. 6, with nearly 11,500 non-combatants - one third of them children - killed or wounded.

Fighting between Afghan security forces and militants, especially in populated areas, remained "the leading cause of civilian casualties" more than two years after NATO's combat mission ended, said the United Nations, which began documenting civilian casualties in 2009.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said there were 11,418 civilian casualties, among them 3,498 deaths and 7,920 injured, which is an increase of three percent over 2015, underscoring growing insecurity.

More than 3,500 children were among the victims, a "disproportionate" increase of 24 percent in one year, the report said. This was mainly due to a 66 percent increase in casualties, most of whom were children, from unexploded ordnance.

The U.N.'s special envoy to Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto said the new figures were "deeply harrowing" and highlights "the gruesome reality of the conflict." 

He called on all parties - militants as well as pro-government forces - to cease fighting in populated areas, and stop using schools, hospitals and mosques for military purposes.

"The continuation of attacks targeting civilians and indiscriminate attacks by Anti-Government Elements - in particular, IED and suicide attacks in civilian-populated areas - is illegal, reprehensible and, in most cases, may amount to a war crime," the report said.

"It is imperative that the perpetrators, whoever they are, be held accountable for such acts." 

The report recorded the majority of civilian casualties in Kabul province...